CURRICULUM INTENT
Maths is an important and creative discipline that feeds into all aspects of our lives and the world around us. At Ryecroft C.E. Middle School our approach is built around the belief that all pupils “can do maths” and our aim is for all pupils to experience success and enjoyment in maths, through:
- The use of visual and practical teaching methods
- Developing a sense of curiosity about the subject
- Using questioning and reasoning skills to solve problems
- Build resilience and gain a deeper, clearer understanding of maths and its applications
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW - CLICK TO VIEW
Key Instant Recall Facts
To develop your child’s fluency and mental maths skills, we have introduced KIRFs throughout school. KIRFS are a way of helping your child to learn by heart, key facts and information which they need to have instant recall of.
KIRFs are designed to support the development of mental maths skills that underpin much of the maths work in our school. They are particularly useful when calculating, adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing. They contain number facts such as number bonds and times tables that need constant practise and rehearsal, so children can recall them quickly and accurately.
Instant recall of facts helps enormously with mental agility in maths lessons. When children move onto written calculations, knowing these key facts is very beneficial. For your child to become more efficient in recalling them easily, they need to be practised frequently and for short periods of time.
Each half term, children will focus on a Key Instant Recall Fact (KIRF) to practise and learn at home for the half term. The KIRFs include practical ideas to assist your child in grasping the key facts and contain helpful suggestions of ways in which you could make this learning interesting and relevant. They are not designed to be a time-consuming task and can be practised anywhere – in the car, walking to school, etc. Regular practice - little and often – helps children to retain these facts and keep their skills sharp. Throughout the half term, the KIRFs will also be practised in school and your child’s teacher will assess whether they have been retained.
Over their time at school, we believe that - if the KIRFs are developed fully - children will be more confident with number work, understand its relevance, and be able to access the curriculum much more easily. They will be able to apply what they have learnt to a wide range of problems that confront us regularly.
KIRFS Overview
Year 5 Autumn 1
Year 6 Autumn 1
Year 5 Autumn 2
Year 6 Autumn 2
